Governments paying lip service Children's issues

Sogakope, June 19, GNA - A Child Rights Activist has slammed African policy makers for only paying lip-service to working in the interest of children in their countries. Mr Julius Kwadzo Ameku, Executive Director, Fact for the Youth of the Southern Sector Organization (FYSSO-Ghana), said international, continental and sub-regional charters and country policy frameworks on child rights and development have been left to gather dust on the shelves. He was speaking at the celebration of this year's Day of the African Child at Sogakope in the South-Tongu District on the theme, "Budgeting for the Rights of Children".

About 500 school children, belonging to the Rights of Children (ROC), a child rights club, established by FYSSO in basic schools in the area, heralded the Day with a procession through town with placards some reading "Child Rights are Human Rights" and "Give the Child the Right Environment to Grow".

Mr Ameku noted that investment in the African child was the only way to build human resources to break the inter-generational poverty transmission on the continent to enhance socio-economic development. He said African policy makers, adult society in general and the family setup, must give the African child the peaceful environment and put an end to the perpetual malnutrition, infant mortality and war- the common occurrences in the lives of the African child. "Children have the right for development, participation, belonging, survival and protection," he said.

Mr Ameku called for state budgetary allocations, especially at the local level to cater for children's concerns. Mr Daniel Amelorku, South-Tongu District Chief Executive (DCE) who also expressed dismay at the neglect of issues of children, said the Assembly last year allocated Ghc 6,000 for the promotion of children's rights, mainly in the area of sensitization against child trafficking, which was common in the area.

He said Ghc 25,000 had been allocated this year for more works in child interest related issues, adding that distribution of free exercise books to school children was part of government's plan to promote the interest of children. Mr Edem Ametewee, South-Tongu Community Development Coordinator of Plan-Ghana, the NGO which collaborated in organizing the Day, demanded an environment for children to air their concerns.

Miss Fafali Kattah, a Pupil, urged her colleagues to be respectful and grasp every opportunity to build a future for themselves. 19 June 10